A Creative Spirit
It's Friday, so let's talk about food. Diets, Recipes, growing fruit and vegetables, pictures of your meals out etc. As part of my drive to change my eating habits, lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle, I am experimenting with recipes outside my comfort zone. This week, I made a cake using oats as a... Continue Reading →
As we move into September, reviewing pictures of my vegetable garden diary from previous years has highlighted that growing certain crops is a waste of time, energy, and expense, and that's before I factor in the stress factor. https://pigletinportugal.com/2012/10/08/portugal-growing-fruit-and-vegetables-september/ I know I am stubborn, and apparently, God loves a trier, but sometimes you just have... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I've lost 5.2kg since starting my diet on July 10th. However, I don't look any slimmer, and my clothes are still tight, which is disappointing, but my knees say 'thank you and keep going!' My BMI is currently 32.5, so yes, I hang my head in... Continue Reading →
As part of my drive to adopt a healthier lifestyle (diet and exercise), I am trying to stepping outside my food comfort zone to experiment with different recipes and vary my diet. Pondering the health benefits of chickpeas, I consulted Google and stumbled upon this interesting article. 15 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Chickpeas Who... Continue Reading →
This week, I was scooping up dead leaves and cuttings from my tomato plants to put in a bag for disposal. Without thinking, I removed my gloves to better photograph the blight-infected leaves. I was uncurling one of the leaves to frame the picture when I saw it move, and this thing that looked like... Continue Reading →
GUTTED! During our family's visit, I neglected our vegetable patch, only to discover that my prized tomato plants had contracted the tomato equivalent of the Bubonic plague—LATE BLIGHT! I am not surprised. Over the last month, we have been enveloped in sea mist at some point most days, so the humidity has been very high.... Continue Reading →
The past couple of weeks have been hectic. Our family from France has been staying, so it was all hands on deck with shopping and preparation before they arrived and piles of laundry and sweeping sand from every nook and cranny once they left. Still, it keeps us fit, and spending time with them is... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food! The zucchinis growing in my small vegetable garden are like buses: They are either a rarity or, like buses, arrive all at once! I now have a few tried-and-tested recipes when my zucchini arrive like buses. Our daughter, who lives in France, gave me this delicious recipe, and I added my... Continue Reading →
I spotted these Sea Daffodils (Pancratium maritimum L.) growing in the dunes beside the boardwalk entrance to Praia de Monte Clerigo. Thankfully, they are away from the footfall traffic, so providing they are left to grow in peace, the seed bulbs should fully develop, and they will reproduce. Map citation: A.Carapeto, F.Clamote, P.V.A.Raújo, P.Beja, D.Frade,... Continue Reading →
It doesn't seem possible that September is only a week away. Our vegetables grow weary from the continued sea mist which shrouds us in a cloud, and the sun plays peek-a-boo as the mist retreats only to return later. 1. Courgettes (Zuchinni) This is the last offering of courgettes. The leaves have white mould and... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food! After picking yet another bumper crop of tomatoes, Mr. Piglet asked what on earth we were going to do with them. I shrugged. Make some more chutney? There's an old saying that 'walls have ears', but I'm less suspicious of the walls and more suspicious that the 'ears' are embedded in... Continue Reading →
We were walking across Ponte Pé bridge in Aljezur when I happened to look down and spotted these little critters basking in the August sunshine! I posted a photograph to the Wildlife in Portugal Facebook group for identification, and I was informed that it was an Iberian Stripe necked terrapins, Mauremys leprosa. Upstream is now... Continue Reading →
It doesn't seem possible that we're already halfway through August! Where does the time go? As I pause from my gardening chores to take a coffee break, I reflect on my Dipladenia, Hydrangea, and Pelargonium challenges, introduce the latest members of Piglet's plant family, and perform a happy dance at this year's bumper crop of... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the Foodie Friday Challenge. Let's talk about food. Whether it's sharing your favourite recipes, growing fruit and vegetables, your harvest ups and downs, hints and tips, or pictures of plates of food - even diets. If it's food-related, why not post it on your blog and add it to the Foodie Friday Blog... Continue Reading →
It never ceases to amaze me how these plants survive. It's mid-August in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, and it's hardly rained for months. As you can see, it grows in poor, rocky soil. All these photographs were taken from the road, so if you can't hike into the countryside like... Continue Reading →
I love Hibiscuses. Here in our corner of the Western Algarve in Portugal, most of my Hibiscus Plants, which grow in pots, flower all year. Apparently, you can buy varieties specifically for pots. Who knew? I've only ever seen the plant labelled as 'Hibiscus' at the garden centres and not had the luxury of choosing... Continue Reading →
Food Glorious Food If we were having coffee, I'd mention, while desperately trying not to look smug, that I've lost another kilo (2.2lb) in weight. That's 3.4kg, or about 7lb, since the 10th of July. I've only eaten one dessert this week while lunching with friends, then immediately came home and walked 2000 steps to... Continue Reading →
Another Wild Wednesday. This week, I feature the Daphne Gnidium L. - Flax-Leaved Daphne. Photographs taken in the the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina end of July and early August. The evergreen shrub grows between 1.5-2 metres tall. All parts of the shrub are poisonous. The flowers eventually turn to red berries... Continue Reading →
This week's Six on Saturday selection features a mixed six. This little 'Piggy' went to the market last Sunday to discover that the plant man selling the veggie plugs had not arrived. Some of his usual customers we see each month, like me, were also standing around feeling lost. What now? Blew a sigh. I... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I would tell you I normally have a slow-burning fuse on some things while others not so much. Especially when it's 35C, I'm hot, and my legs ache. I was perfectly happy to sit and watch the world go by in the shade at a cafe while Mr. P went... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 